Anti inflammatory Archives - Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Healthy Foods That Are Anti-Inflammatory Good

Healthy foods change your life…

They are not difficult to spot grocery shopping and easy to incorporate into your daily healthy lifestyle. This article is about anti-inflammatory healthy foods that will give your body and wallet the best bang for the buck, so you can have a healthy year and future.

…And that’s something to get excited about and celebrate. 🎉

…Which btw, I’m all about celebrating. That was how I started my career as a hotel catering sales manager and later for restaurant parties. My job in those roles was to plan event menus with prepared food dishes and desserts that made hosts and guests attending happy. These days, in similar fun festive spirit, I still do this at home weekly.

Party planning is fun, and it’s good to come up with a sweet and savory spread to enjoy in moderation and share on a celebration table of joy!

…But healthy-minded.

And to offset the happy food (that’s not always healthy), I bake in and eat lots of anti-inflammatory healthy foods in between.

Because anti-inflammatory foods help to work against all the foods and bad adds that are not helping our bodies.

Many of the good adds are plant-based foods and their anti-inflammatory properties are meant to protect the plant for survival.

…And as consumers, we benefit. 🎉

When I realized that fact, I never looked at my produce house plants grown from seeds in the same way again. 🌱🥑

Shelling out out the greens 💸for the green healthy foods is an investment in our bodies. And if you’re a green thumb, maybe you grow your own! 🥬

There are endless variety lists of healthy foods (and that’s the exciting part I’m talkin’ about!).

Elevating to the next degree is putting on AI (as in Anti-Inflammatory) glasses 👓 to choose low-glycemic foods and rainbow polyphenol foods 🌈

That’s just another way to finding anti-inflammatory healthy foods all around us.

They prevent free radicals in the body that I learned about in my college days when revealed science was already ahead of its time.

I even hung up a poster from the American Cancer Society that promoted basic whole foods like apples, oranges, and avocados. The colorful poster made me happy, splashed against my wall of poster art that was popular to do in those days.

…Ah, but those were the innocent years when adults didn’t know that healthy Omega-3 fats and nuts would be deemed good one day. How nuts! 🥜

…And those were also the days I educated my vitamin supplement consumers I had on the power of super foods with Vitamins A, C, and E that thankfully hasn’t changed healthy value much over the test of time. If anything, they are even more sought after in these longer living years.

Vitamin C was used to cure scurvy as early as the 1700s and today is a top immunity booster.

These Vit-C anti-inflammatory foods are the same healthy foods found around the world that protect against the common chronic diseases that we know, like: heart diseases, lifestyle born diseases, certain cancers, and even cognitive decline… that’s becoming more common family table talk on the rise.

…But it doesn’t have to be this way.

We can point to people who inherited pretty good or great genes, but now look decades older than their age because of lifestyle choices or causes.

Then there are others who weren’t so gene-blessed, but despite their genes they chose to live a healthy lifestyle and you would never know their unfavorable hidden genes based on their active lifestyle and healthy appearances.

One big difference for either is how they take care of themselves in life. Healthy, they protect their mind, body, and spirit, and they have purpose and community.

Anti-inflammatory foods and beverages also helped carry them into their golden years so they could optimally live.

Anti-inflammatory Foods Is Self-Care

Anti-inflammatory healthy foods is self-care in action.

The healthy foods can be weaved into daily eating habits and even baking… I know this intimately well because I do it weekly.

You can make delicious and comforting Southern-type meals and bakes with anti-inflammatory ingredients. It’s mindful and can be simple effort tweaks with an anti-inflammatory recipe.

Replacing with anti-inflammatory ingredients instead of the inflammatory, processed ones (that offer little to no nutritional value) makes a world of difference to the body.

Take a Southern dish like collard greens. Instead of loading with butter and bacon (like a stuffed potato), additive choice could be to add capers and olive oil as a healthy version. For a foodie, that tastes great and is comparable in the wallet for a food shopper. 🛒

But ah… there are traditionalists who don’t want to change a generational recipe… or find that style bland.

The challenge benefit is that if you do change it up, your tastes will help change along with you.

And that’s one way where you can improve your health legacy from previous generations. If your ancestors knew better or had better ingredients, they would have used them.

…And we do today. So we have a better choice.

It’s up to us.

Believe me, I know it’s hard to eat skinny, healthy, lean and mean during wintery months when comfort food is calling. This help keep us Vatas warm and cozy.🧶

Plus, winter season is a natural time to bring out our sad or sleepy Kapha body and mind sides. We’re complex beings in our comfort pants 😉.

And that’s when you can bring out the warm, savory healthy foods and anti-inflammatory healthy, delicious bakes to the table.

…And for starting the day and changing journey. 🌅

In mine, I took a sweet tooth cereal breakfast to a healthy savory habit.

That was not an easy path until I made up my mind.

Plus, age is on our side. Our taste buds help us out as we have less sweet taste buds as we get older.

Changing habits and ways to match desires is the challenge that gets to the goal. 🎯

It’s made easier with baby step action, habit changes.

…Like entertaining the idea of dinner leftovers for an easy breakfast or prepared vegetables for starters. And then doing it!

Even if we don’t naturally gravitate toward veggies first. 🙋🏻‍♀️

…Or we’ve created a habit of cereals and croissants.

I grew up that way along with oatmeal and fruit.

To bridge the wide gap, I made it easy on myself… I found that raw veggies eaten the next day don’t need to be refrigerated or prepared. So they’re easy to grab-n-go.

…They can be left out in plain sight even when feeling morning groggy and waiting to drink a cup of coffee.

The habit can be as easy as drinking a glass of water or brushing your teeth, first thing.

And getting in those few pieces of fiber healthy foods revs up the engine. It gets the gut happy, and that helps us get happy.

Happy gut = happy empowered day. 😊

Water and healthy foods are the gas and oil that makes the car go without hiccups so we can have a healthy life.

And these are a few simple fiber and anti-inflammatory healthy foods you can add to your diet that require little to no prep. They are healthy good if you’re on a keto diet of sorts because of the net carbs factor (in case you’re counting):

Asparagus – it’s a prebiotic fiber food that feeds your gut good food (bacteria) and has Vitamins A, C, and E. The net carbs for 6 spears of asparagus is about 2 grams. That’s pretty darn good!

But, with an anti-inflammatory diet rainbow assortment of foods 🌈, you don’t really need to count the good.

Green lentils – this is a quick cook, protein-filled meal and is a cleanse. It has almost 16 grams of fiber per cup, and sometimes double that of other lentil types. This is where reading labels comes in handy!

Add your alliums like onions or garlic that are fiber and also immunity boosters.

Bug pests hate them as well as viruses like the common cold. You can buy these whole foods in bunches for pennies to the dollar and they last a long time.

Sunflower seeds – are full of protein and Vitamin E, an antioxidant. You can add these for crunch.

And maybe even imagine them instead of chips.

Avocado – is great for breaking a fast (like breakfast). It has Vitamins C and E antioxidants and has all 3 macronutrients.

Red bell peppers – were stuffed peppers in my catering days that became a Vegetarian dish we served. With a little rice, you can make this a meal stuffed with Vitamins A, C, and E.

Squash – like spaghetti squash and butternut squash sauce can be the new tomato sauce (especially if you’re avoiding high acidity). These nutrient-dense healthy foods are polyphenol-rich, anti-inflammatory good.

Spinach – is an easy one to add to a bowl. Spinach doesn’t expire quickly like other salad types… and rather than eating it as a cold salad, try adding a few drops of water and steaming.

Your greens get wilted down into one or two bite-fulls. With a little garlic, sweet pear or apple bits, and crunchy chopped walnuts, this becomes a delicious bite. And, 1 cup of spinach is about 1 net carb gram.

My plan starts with foods winning points for the body keeping score, like the ones described with veggie fiber, healthy oil, protein, and healthy carbs.

Certain protein foods like quinoa and lentils are an efficient cooked starter as they cook fast and fill the body with nutrients and keep you from feeling hungry.

And, quinoa cereal became one of my bridge foods from sweet to savory.

Then on Sunday brunch weekends, I make Greek yogurt parfaits. Almost everything on my brunch recipes table that looks white and creamy is probiotic yogurt healthy. That goes for the tartar sauce, “whipped cream” toppings, and sweet fillings.

Rarely, do I find a need to use the whipped cream that’s stored in my freezer. And these days, I think the tart yogurt tastes better with the paired sweets.

…That’s how your tastes can change!

Greek yogurt topped on a pumpkin trifle. 🧡

And these are 3 ways you can get inspired to add and eat more anti-inflammatory healthy foods:

1.Lean into the seasonal produce foods that interest you. Like squashes, citrus, apples, pumpkin, and winter berries. You can find so many new fruit varieties like jackfruit and dragon fruit on the grocery shelves (and so many others that haven’t even made it from our tropical climate lands to our markets where they are named).

2.Reinvent sides. The stuffing sides can be what gets some of us in trouble, and if the carbs is what you’re worried about, you can reinvent the starchier side carbs to work for your body.

Stick with veggies carbs that are the opposite and with very few calories, and some have great flavors such as mushrooms, asparagus, and onions that you can turn into a Provencal herby-forward experience with a little tarragon, white pepper, vinegar or sherry.

Carrots (raw and cooked) are so versatile for sweet and savory dishes where you can substitute the fun marshmallows with a divine anti-inflammatory diet pairing like ginger and nut or seed textures. Appreciating food textures is a no-calorie add. 💭

3.Make healthy desserts. This is my specialty area and weakness turned into a positive, net gain.

It’s no baking secret that butter and refined sugars add to weight gain. And ingredients like white flour and white sugar are inflammatory foods. Moderation is still the best modern way.

Plus incorporating more healthy foods to add a cushion.

Keeping a balance between tasty and healthy is a dynamic pairing duo.

And the sweet spot is they are usually easy bakes in minutes like a healthy pear or apple pie with cinnamon spice sweetness.

You can make a pumpkin pie from pumpkin puree that’s loaded with antioxidant Vitamin A and beta carotene. Mix in plant-based almond milk. Then add allspice that’s all anti-inflammatory goodness as the sweet five-spice version!

For holiday sweets, you can start with those whole food ingredients like cranberries with oranges or sweet potatoes and honey and holiday spices… and then zhugh up with a few cherries or nuts…

You don’t have to give up the party sides 😉 (I personally wouldn’t want to from all my party planning years).

All this to say, re-branding healthy foods into your daily life is rewarding to your body and food table, enjoyable, and a challenge you can embrace! 🎉

Chai Balls (No Bake)

Chai balls are a warming festive sweet snack that energize ✨ any table and that and goes well with tea… well, chai. These are easy NO BAKE. 🫖

These chai balls look like truffles (…yes?) and are as delicious, but are also anti-inflammatory healthy.

They are made from all plant-based ingredients. Recipe below. 🧡

Chai spice or tea is also Ayurvedic healthy and good for balancing Vata body mind type tendencies. You’ll know chai is good for your moods this season if you desire a cup. 😊

That’s Ayurveda in a nutshell as it leans in your natural preferences. And this applies to the modern West that meets traditional East.

Chai usually has cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger, that will help warm up Kapha (winter) feelings.

And if you find the kind of chai tea bags or loose tea that has (black) pepper in its ingredients, you get additional health benefits.

Cardamom and pepper are an anti-inflammatory Wonder Twins pairing. Together, they’re activated (and you don’t need a magic ring 💍).

Another idea is I like a dash of cardamom coffee on those sluggish mornings for a little pick-me-up jolt.⚡️

Not to mention, adding cloves that’s at the top of the anti-inflammatory list.

With all those spices in chai, you’re doing yourself a world of good by helping protect against some chronic diseases (that could develop later down the road but take a hike instead).

The healthy molecules are meant to protect the plants they come from, and (us) humans benefit as final consumers.

I like to think of chai balls like a holiday Pfefferneusse cookie you would find at a Christmas Market, but does a world of good for your body. 🎄

…AND, you don’t have to travel anywhere and can make these sweet festive or holiday snacks in seconds.

Gathering the ingredients in your house is where the tasty effort will go if they’re already in your cupboard.

And if not, you can easily find and get them from your grocery source.

They are ingredients that can be used again and have long shelf-life…

They also make for seasonably warm drinks like cocoa and calming chai tea to name a few. And also molasses cake and simple cookie bakes that have worked for generations to bring smiles to faces no matter the situations. 🥮

…Which reminds me, I was near an old-fashioned Moravian baking oven and the simple and wholesome ingredients they used inspired me.

They’re the same healthy ingredients we have around today (maybe a little more pure without sprays).

And we can make these chai cookies with the Moravian baking spirit ✨ for our winter break, Christmas holidays, or daily reading. They’re fun and easy to share.

Chai Balls (No Bake)

These anti-inflammatory balls are 4 delicious ingredients and no-bake easy.

Servings 3 servings or pieces

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

1 tbsp coconut oil, solid form (refined for less coconut taste)
1 chai tea bag (dry)
1 tbsp molasses (can substitute for maple syrup or raw honey)
1 tbsp cacao (100% cocoa)
pumpkin spice and/or cinnamon spice for dusting

Instructions

Roll ingredients and then separately roll in dusting spice.

Cocoa Balls (No Bake)

Cocoa balls are a fun way to ring in the holidays. ✨They’re festive and healthy! And these shiny ones are made from dark cocoa and natural peanut butter. No baking needed.

Working in event planning for a decade, I learned to be creative with food to decorate a plate for events like this…

The ingredients are simply rolled up and then dipped in melted dark chocolate… and then zhughed with some fun nonpareils. The recipe is below. ❣️

…I love how a little uniform tiny confectionary dots can add a smile that reminds me of childhood innocence. I’m easily amused. 😊

Old-fashioned nonpareils bring a nice, FUN texture candy crunch or sprinkle to a party table. I’m sure Girl Meets Farm Molly Yeh would agree with me. 🥳

And their perfectly round shape balance an imperfect confectionary creation for us imperfect humans.

We can put our own stamps on these cocoa balls.

These ones could have been cocoa powder dusted (like a chocolate truffle) with a dry look.

But I think the step of giving a tempered chocolate coating-look bring some added happy temperaments. 😋

Getting a best melted chocolate coating without making a ganache is seconds-easy, and healthy with plant-based ingredients like dark chocolate that’s also anti-inflammatory healthy.

Then you can roll these cocoa balls into their fun paper candy holders that are ready to be shared or popped in your mouth.

…I guess you could say these please the girl scrapbooker in me that likes anything paper and dainty you could use for parties! 🎊 A piñata and a few balloons never hurt either! 🎈

Then with any extra melted chocolate you have leftover, while still wet and room temperature, you can mix in peanuts, raisins, other nuts, or dried fruits to make a healthy snack or plate decoration.

And this type of festive Fiesta plate can be one of your dessert table centerpieces that you can make in advance and set out.

For parties, it’s always good to make more than you think you will need, so you can plate up quickly if needed.

And actually, I could’ve turned this plate into a decorative wreath piping in green leaves and red accents or adding mint leaves and glace maraschino cherries like on this Christmas bundt cake if I wanted to get all decked out. 🍒

Another simple and festive no-bake recipe you can add to your festive table is mint chocolate biscuits.

Cocoa Balls

These are tasty and healthy sweet snacks that you can make in minutes.

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

1 tbsp coconut oil, solid form
1 tbsp natural peanut butter (smooth and creamy)
1/3 cup peanut flour or gluten-free flour
1 tsp raw honey (or maple syrup)
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp liquid (coffee, water, MCT oil, etc.)
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips melted
nonpareils (optional)

Lemon Cookies – Healthy For the Holidays

Lemon cookies are one tasty way to brighten up your holiday and Christmas cookie baking fun. 🎄

At first, it may sound strange to bake in lemon during the holidays.

…Because when we think of Christmas cookies, we traditionally think of chocolate, pistachio, or spices for Christmas-y vibes… and not summery lemon-y ones.

…But actually lemon is a winter fruit as most citrus fruits are.

Tip: you can buy lemons in the grocery stores in the winter months and freeze them for year-round use. You can save money this way as lemons are abundant in winter and when their price falls.

And these two healthy-inspired lemon cookies warm up the holiday baking season and festivities…

How to make these lemon strawberry and lemon rosemary cookies are step-by-step below… ⬇️

…So now that we’ve established lemons 🍋 are great, tasty year-round ingredients, they’re also super healthy.

Lemons are loaded with Vitamin C and full of limonene that’s an antioxidant.

And not only body healthy, the sunny lemon yellow is going to put anyone in a good happy mood… while brightening up tastes.

…Just ask those in the Mediterranean regions where cooking lemon into the daily diet for longevity reasons is a happy way of life.

Healthy Lemon Cookies

And so… in search of making one happy, anti-inflammatory lemon cookie, I was inspired by using healthy oils (no butter) and more healthy, natural sugar sources that have vitamins.

…But that was waayyy before I started baking all of my own sweets including cookies (my favorite!) for consumption…

Actually, I used to play a game with myself in the cookie grocery store aisle where I would find the healthiest cookie in a package with the smallest amount of sugar for the tastiest effect.

That was how I defined high cookie value.

Those were the day before I discovered how easy it is to bake your own cookies (that’s faster than if you go to the store and back).

And if you’re trying to lower your sugar intake (that’s a good idea! 💡) but love cookies, tart lemon is a great ingredient dimension add to cookies so the focus isn’t on sugar.

…The sour taste buds are doing a front row Radio City Rockettes happy dance with the secondary sweet buds behind. 👯

Like in this celebrational plate of healthy cookies with a strawberry lemon drizzle dessert surprise (made of Greek yogurt and buffalo mozzarella) in the middle.

plate of homemade and baked cookies including lemon cookies. — Clockwise from left to right: lemon strawberry cookie, lemon almond thyme cookie, spiced cookie

Baking in healthy ingredients is anti-inflammatory for skin and gut heath.

And making a cookie without butter or white sugar of any kind — that’s also deliciously tasty, holds together, and is crunchy (wow, that’s a mouthful!) — similar to store-bought cookies, is a dream come true! 💕 ..

And these lemon cookies with strawberries 🍓 fit the bill. They’re zesty and sweet in every way…

…Maybe that’s where zest-for-life came from?

And you can make lemon cookies like these with mostly healthy ground almond flour where you can save money by chopping your own whole almonds with a machine.

Recipe below.👇

…Or you can make a thyme-rosemary lemon cookie that’s Mediterranean-diet-lemon-and-olive oil healthy.

Since you’re using oil instead of butter for this cookie, you don’t need to refrigerate or cool the dough before rolling out as an added bonus.

For the flour for those lemon cookies, use gluten-free flour like coconut or almond flour (again).

And for the sweetness, use a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup.

Those sweet ingredients also act as binders along with the olive oil. Honey is great for moisturizing in dry, winter months and maple syrup for cooling down in hot months. But either are great year-round!

You can measure the healthy EVOO, but it’s much more fun if you look at cookie making as a new adventure like the wonder you had as a kid. 💭

…In your wonder, you can take a cup of flour and make a mound. Then, make a small well in the middle (like you would if you were making pasta) and add a tablespoon of olive oil in the well and start combining… and see what happens.

You’ll probably see that you need more oil to hold the flour together.

Try another tablespoon of EVOO. Then add a tablespoon of honey (or maple syrup).

Then add lemon zest from one lemon, and you can also add your herbs like rosemary and thyme.

Keep combining and adding a little bit more of the ingredient amount you need, like more olive oil…

Cookies are super forgiving. 😋

When the cookie dough can hold together with crumbly bits falling off, that’s when you know you will have a good cookie crunch when fully baked.

Place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper on top of your dough, and roll out the dough (or flatten dough with the palm of your hand for imperfect cookies).

Then you can form your cookies into the shape you like by hand or cookie cutters.

Bake on 325°F on the higher baking shelf for about 12 minutes. I like to flip the cookies (from bottom to top) about 5 minutes before they’re done so they are baked more even as the bottoms get brown faster.

Lemon cookies also tend to burn quicker than darker color cookies like gingerbread cookies, another favorite for this ‘lil Miss Cookie Monster! 😋

Lemon Strawberry Cookie

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Ingredients

1/2 cup almonds (or use almond flour)
1 tbsp coconut oil, solid
1 tbsp maple syrup
pinch of salt
strawberry
1/4 cup bench flour

Instructions

Use a chopping processor machine to chop almonds to a fine almond flour or use store-bought almond flour. Combine with all ingredients except bench flour to make the cookie dough.
Add bench flour to your working surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes and add to a baking cookie sheet with a non-stick surface (Silpat or use baking spray).
Bake on 325°F for about 12 minutes or until sides are golden brown.

Spices – 10 Holiday Taste Ideas

Spices and herbs are my favorite accoutrement for cooked-in flavor… plus more for zhugh. Spices are usually an after thought though. 💭

It’s good to sniff your spices once in a while to see if they are still fresh and usable. You can test them with a popcorn tasting party.

…Anything tastings btw make me perk up 🤩 and are up-my-alley probably because I spent a decade de ma vie as an event menu and planner professional working with tasty dishes and party planner hosts.

…And hosting your home popcorn tasting, instead of just a shake of salt, you can add a spice blend. You can also add EVOO for some healthy points or keep your dry snack, dry without any fat (that’s good for weight loss missions or a Kapha imbalance).

A small dash of salt (that’s a pinch or a teaspoon) daily is healthy for most people. 🧂

…But most of us get enough salt from the foods we eat without needing to add more… unless you cook all your foods and then you know exactly how much of this-or-that you’ve added.

And for more truth, there’s a myth that sea salts are healthier. All salt has sodium at the core, and salt from the sea has about the same as table salt.

I like to have a mixture of coarse salt, Celtic and Himalayan sea salts, and table salt for different cooking and baking reasons.

Coarser salts make good zhugh like food bling. 💍 Its crunch is also baked salty-good in fall pizzas.

And like salt, spices can add flavor in and on foods.

Herbs are often better on (or at least visible), and brown spices better as invisible flavor. But some spice seeds are zhugh exceptional like coriander, saffron threads, and fiery crushed red pepper flakes. 🔥

Herbs come from the greener parts (stems and leaves) of the plants and spices come from the seeds, roots, bark, and flowers… so they’re often ground to pinhead size or a powder.

I’ll share my bits here as these are some of my favorite year-round and holiday cooking spices and herbs in their own anti-inflammatory league:

1.Saffron (bitter, sweet pungent):

Saffron is delicious on most seafood like a seafood paella or saffron shrimp egg white omelette.

The thin red strands are unique and tasty on ooey-gooey desserts or a glazed lemon coconut cookie. And not only does saffron lift flavor: did you know saffron is a mood lifter? …so if you have an imbalanced Kapha mood that’s part of seasonal winter months, this is an amazing addition.

It also believed to help with worried and anxious feelings that are obvious Vata signs.

2.Cayenne pepper (pungent):

If you add the heated cayenne spice in your salty dishes like mac-n-cheese, then you have a different tasting dish altogether. Fresh cayenne can be caliente hot so don’t let the muted color-appearance fool you.

Did you know cayenne is used in many Cajun dishes?

If you want to stick with a mild dish, you could use the safer mild paprika (found also in Creole dishes like gumbo).

Adding cayenne on top of avocado sprouted bread toast is a personal favorite snack that’s good so you don’t add too much hot spice as you can see the contrast in colors.

The initial burning sensation you get on your tongue is what makes the plant-based capsaicin compound anti-inflammatory.

3.Turmeric (smokey/astringent):

In case you’re wondering what does turmeric tastes like? …it gives any salty dish a smoky taste.

Tumeric is a super-anti-inflammatory curcumin spice that gets more healthy potent with black pepper.

It’s smoky and extremely dry to the mouth. The bright orange flaming color would never prepare you for that.

Consider adding turmeric spice to potatoes, fish, or eggs.

On popcorn, I like it with a ‘lil EVOO since turmeric is astringent (drying in the mouth) and popcorn is naturally dry. 🍿

This is a healthy way over adding salt and butter, and one you can do watching movies in your home comfort.

Tip: use a stainless steel bowl as turmeric leaves an orange stain like fiery-orange leaves. 🍂

4.Ginger (pungent):

Add fresh ginger root to your hot tea and water to aid digestion from your big meal and to start your day.

It’s exceptionally beneficial in the morning when you’re revving up your stomach engine for the day ahead with its gingerol anti-inflammatory effects.

An easier way to cut the irregular shaped root and remove the skin is to soak the ginger in water overnight, and then it’s softer so you can cut the skin off. 🫚

Dry ginger is a staple powdery spice ingredient for holiday gingerbread bakes… my fave way to bring in sweet spice blends.

5.Cumin (cool):

And on the other temperature extreme, cumin is one-of-a-kind. That says it all!

It’s one of the primary Ayurvedic spices. If you’re a competitive Pitta or have a Pitta imbalance where you’re feeling angry or irritated, you’ll naturally prefer this spice during those hotter mood seasons.

It’s a cooling spice that will cool down and help inflammation.

If you combine with paprika or cayenne heat, it’ll help balance the spice temperatures that’s good for when you feel hot on the outside and cool temps on the inside, or vice versa. …You know those days, when both a cold and warm shower feel good. 🚿

Cumin is deliciously found in many plant-based and Middle Eastern dishes like falafel or hummus. Or in Mediterranean dishes and salads with feta and red onions.

I added some to falafel waffles and a potato Greek yogurt dip (like a tzatziki without cucumbers) I made over this past weekend.

💡You can always test spice on a popcorn snack or rice first to see if you will like it!

6.Curry (sweet):

…Ok, there are 3 savory spices I used to detest when I was younger… and guess what they are?…They are all on this list! I disliked ginger, rosemary, and this spice… curry.

Today, I am a fan of all of these spices. Why? Because your tastes change and learning to pair tastes changes tastes.

Tastings as I mentioned was part of my job. And when I could taste the notes in the spice with a complementary food pairing, it became a different and newly enhanced experience.

Curry in a mustard potato salad is one example that changed my mind.

And then I learned about the anti-inflammatory effects. Since curry is a seasoning blend with turmeric and chili pepper already mentioned as healthy tastes, you can see why it’s a no-brainer add. 👍

Plus, the lemony coriander vibe in the curry blend is like the cherry on top. 🍋🍒

7.Rosemary (astringent)

Rosemary is a unique herb. Add to cooked eggs and you’ll have a nice hiking, woodsy, and evergreen pine-like experience in your mouth.🌲

Add to roasted potatoes and root veggies and it’s a total flavor winner.

Rosemary is also one of the most anti-inflammatory herbs and is part of the mint family.

Mint is one of my favorite teas and herbs, so you can see why this one became a favorable one even though it took time to grow on me 😉.

And that’s one lesson that can help you to grow: Never give up on healthy foods you didn’t like before!

8.Oregano (astringent):

Oregano can come as a close second to rosemary if you’re deciding on healthiest. But why choose between the two when you can have both?

Add both herbs to a holiday turkey for the more traditional tastes where you can’t go wrong.

Oregano is like adding salt on pastas and Italian tomato-based dishes.

Thanksgiving spices don't have to be traditional like this za'atar rub.

9.Coriander:

Coriander is a lemony-tasting spice and one the subtle yellow brightens up any dish. The best kind to buy is coriander seeds that you can finger crush into your cooking pots and pans or directly into your food bowl.

…I wonder if Fido would like that too? 💭

That adds a spice flavor burst when you get one that leaves a nice, lingering after taste, after your spoonful bite is long gone.

Coriander is also an antioxidant that’s good for preventing free-radicals and oxidative stress (that helps to protect against certain cancers).

10.Sumac (bitter):

And finally, I saved the best for last. It’s one of the lesser known spices but is a super antioxidant good for cold and flu season and around the holidays.

Add sumac to your potatoes for a slightly bitter tangy taste, and casseroles. The small specks of dark purplish red color, stand out from the crowd of spices in your rack.

It’s a key ingredient in a za’atar spice blend, that commonly has sesame seeds, sumac, and thyme. You can easily bake za’atar into healthy za’atar crackers.